Conveyer construction



` 34. J. o. SULLIVAN 2,405,530

CONVEYER CONS flRUCTION Filed Aug. 28. 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR.

H T 0R NE Y' ug. 6, 1946. J. o. SULLIVAN GONVEYER CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 28, 194sl s sheets-sheet 2 INVENToR, .fo/1 n O- U//l'va'n Aug. 6, 1946.

Ifi ml" J. o. SULLIVAN CONVEYER CONS TRUCT ION y Filed Aug. 28, 1943` 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 BYM.

HTTO/VEY Patented Aug. 6, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVEYER CONSTRUCTION John O. Sullivan, Sioux City, Iowa Application August 28, 1943, Serial No. 500,344

My invention relates to a conveyer construction.

An object of my invention is to provide a cheaply formed conveyer construction in order t eliminate the necessity of using expensive conveyer belts and the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide a conveyer construction which is made up of a series of spaced lateral slats which slats are interwoven in spaced relation by means of twisted 2 claims. (ci. 19e-'195) steel wires in a manner somewhat analogous to n that structure similar to snow fencing.

A further object of my invention is to provide a driving arrangement in which the drive is applied directly against the slats thereby not requiring eXtra links, or other appendages.

A further object of my invention is to provide in a modified form, a special arrangement wherein a plurality of slats are engaged simultaneously by projecting lugs in order to provide an equally divided pressure against each of the slats, and to thereby greatly eliminate wearing of the slats, y

such effect insuring a longer life to the complete conveyer without undue wearl of the individual y parts and to also provide a maximum power effect in driving the conveyer,

A further object of my invention, in a modified form is to provide a slat arrangement in which the slats are attached by wires, and in which such slats are adjacent to each other in order to convey sand, gravel, and the like.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of Figure 4 taken along the lines I-l thereof,

Figure 2 is a sectional View of Figure 3 taken along the lines 2 2 thereof,

Figure 3 is a detail of the supporting rollers,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the conveyer,

Figure 5 is a modified form taken along the lines of 5--5 of Figure 6,

Figure Gis a plan view of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a modification,

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail,

Figure 9 is a detail of a modified form of the arrangement, taken along the lines 9 9 of Figure 10,

Figure 10 is a bottom view of Figure 9 taken along the lines l0-l0 thereof,

.Figure 11 is a modified form of slat,

Figure 12 is an enlarged section of Figure 11 taken along the lines |2-l2 and,

Figure 13 is a further modified form of slat.

My invention contemplates the provision of a conveyer arrangement which is sturdy, and which will provide all of the requirements of a conveyer, whether it be short or long, without necessitatingthe use of expensive Ieather, rubber, or other belts the expense of which is excessive. My invention further contemplates the provision of a conveyer wherein a cheaply formed structure is provided through the use of spaced slats which are interwoven between pairs of strong wires or cables which cables are twisted between each respective slat. Such slat structures, through standard production methods can be very cheaply formed and will withstand a great amount of wear and pressure, snow fencing being one of the types of slet structures formed by this method. My invention also provides an efficient driving method wherein the alternate slats are engaged by suitable mechanisms whereby the pressure is applied against the slats directly.

I have used the character l0 to designate a shaft which Yis driven at the end ll by means of any suitable power arrangement, the shaft i0 being journaled within suitable posts l2, and attached at I3 to the shaft I0 are a pair of sprockets E4 having the projecting integral lugs l5.

The conveyer itself is made up of a series of equally spaced slats IE which slats are held in spaced relation by the pairs of wires Il which are twisted together at I8 between slats, this arrangement then providing a continuous conveyer, cessed spaces IS the width of which are very slightly greater than the width of the slats lli. The other end of the conveyer system includes a further shaftk 20 journaled Wi-thin posts 2l, and which shaft 20 is similarly attached at 22 to identical sprockets 23 having projections 2l! the ,same as the projections I5 and the recessed spaces 25 the same as the spaces i9.

It should be understood that Figures l and 4 illustrate the driving, and driven ends of the conveyer, this conveyer being of any required length, with shorter conveyers using smaller slats, and the longer conveyers using stronger and heavier slats, with the slat dimensions also being largely determined by the load the conveyer must carry. In long conveyers it may be necessary to use supports at spaced intervals, and I thereby provide the side brackets 26 which are attached at 2'! to the fioor or tothe ground, etc., and which brackets include bearings 28 in which bearings is Between the lugs I5 are provided the rejournaled a shaft 29 to which is attached a pair of supporting rollers 30, such rollers being equally spaced laterally to uniformly support the traveling conveyer. Only one roller 30 is shown in Figure 3, although it Will be understood that two or more are used, with a similar bracket 26 being positioned at the other side of the conveyer.

It will now be seen that as the shaft Ii is rotated in the direction of the arrow 3| (see Figure 1), the lugs l5 on the sprocket I4 will engage between the slats i6 and move the same, the slats thereby providing the elfect of a chain which is driven by the sprocket. As a result the entire conveyor system is moved and the conveyed objects can be placed upon the slats and therebi7 carried. It should be noted that the pressure of the sprocket lugs against the slats as -they move forwardly is applied directly against each slat thereby involving a cheap and yet efcient construction Without unnecessary eXtra chains or other parts,

Figure shows a modied and probably preferred form of the arrangement, especially where greater power is required, and in which the driving shaft is indicated by the character 32 and a further shaft is indicated by the character 33, With such shafts being journaled in the posts or bearings 34. Attached to the shafts 32 and 33 are the pairs of spaced sprockets 35 and 36 including the sprocket teeth 37, and engaging the teeth 3l are a pair of sprocket chains 38 to which are attached at spaced intervals the lugs 3a which lugs are adapted to be received in the spaces between the respective slats IG. The conveyor itself is made up in the same manner as the conveycr described in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive and uses substantially the same construction of slats Y slats I3, and the spacing between the shafts 32 i and 33 is such so that there will be several lugs 39 engaging against, or forcing several slats at the same time, with the lugs on the top of the arrangement forcing the slats as well as lugs at the bottom thereof. The shaft Y32 preferably is the driving shaft in this arrangement, and it Will be understood of course that the transverse slats, etc., pass over a driven shaft such as the shaft 2S in Figure l having the projections 2li, etc.

The above described arrangement has a greater amount of power than the first described arrangement, in that several slats are engaged simultaneously, and also since all of such slats are engaged at one time, there will be correspondingly less wear on each slat, rendering the entire arrangement useful over a long period of time, and allowing the use of wooden slats With a minimum amount of wear. The chains 38 can be `provided in different lengths corresponding to the length of the conveyer system, or the weight of the objects carriedthereby. The pair of chains 38 also provide a uniform force at either side of the system. The above chain drive system can be placed at any position on the conveyer, and need not necessarily be at the extreme end as shown in Figure 5, it being understood that it'can be placed at any position between the ends, with the ends, of course, then passing over further sprockets.

Figure 7 illustrates a further modification in which the individual slats 'i E are positioned closely adjacent to eachother which slats include the openings at 411 wherein the Wires l1 are twisted, and these slats also include cut-out portions at 4l to provide openings which receivevthe lugs 39 in the modification shown in Figure 5, or the projections I5 and 24 as shown in Figure 1, etc. These cut-out portions can be formed in the slats i6 by standard production methods so that when they are joined they provide the shapes as shown in Figures 7 and 8. In this latter type of structure, the conveyor can be used for conveying gravel, sand, or other ner materials, and either drive arrangement as shown in Figure 1 or 5 can be used.

Figure 9 illustrates a further modified form oi the device in which the slats 42 include the integrally formed extending lugs 43 attached thereto. 'I'he lugs can be formed as an integral portion of the slat by forming the entire slat and lug of a suitable plastic, etc., or can be a separate piece firmly attached thereto. In this type of structure the lugs 43 will be received between the pins or rollers 44 of the link chains 38, whereby these pins will then apply the driving force against the individual slats 42, the balance of the chain drive arrangement being as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 13 illustrates a further modification wherein a slat is indicated by the character 45 which slat includes the rectangular openings 46 formed therein. In using this type of slat the conveyor will be driven by means of either the projections l5 of Figure l, or the lugs 39 of Figure 5 engaging the openings 45 and driving the entire conveyer.

It should be understood that the slats in the above arrangement can be formed of any material consistent with economy, and eiciency.

It will now be seen that I have provided all of the advantages mentioned in the objects of my in- Vention with many other advantages being readily apparent, in a cheaply built structure, which is much cheaper than the expensive belting now commonly employed, and which is efficient in operation.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

l. A conveyer system comprising a plurality of spaced slats, wire members between which said slats are interwoven for supporting and spacing the same, a pair of chain drives, said chain drives being spaced apart laterally with respect to the conveyen'said chain drives including a substantial plurality of lugs attached thereto, said lugs received between said spaced slats and adapted to abut directly against the same for forcible conveying movement thereof, sprockets for driving said chains, means for driving at least one of said sprockets.

2. A conveyer system comprising a plurality of spacedv slats, wire members between which said slats are interwoven for supporting and spacing the same, a pair of chain drives, said chain drives being spaced apart laterally with respect to the conveyor, said chain drives including a substantial plurality of lugs attached thereto, said lugs received between said spaced slats and adapted to abut directly against the same for forcible conveying movement thereof, sprockets for driving said chains, means for driving at least one of said sprockets, said chain drives being positioned at one end of said conveyor, said conveyer being continuous, a driven sprocket attached at the other end of said conveyer.

JOHN O. SULLIVAN. 

